Hard Talk – Healthcare cost burden

By Nasik Swami: Payroll tax on GPs, increasing costs for GP visits, and a complicated Medicare scheme—is our health system failing our communities and the most vulnerable? Are the increasing healthcare costs becoming a deterrent for people in our district to visit a GP/doctor and seek treatment when our public hospitals are already overcrowded? Who should be held accountable for the burden of the extra healthcare costs people in country towns are facing? The Royal Australian College of GPs and the Australian Medical Association have warned the payroll tax would force clinics to pass on the cost to patients, end bulk billing, or shut down completely. In this edition of Hard Talk, The News digs deep into the much talked about GP payroll tax, the increasing cost of seeing a GP in country towns like Naracoorte, and a review of our Medicare system. We asked the SA Health Minister Chris […]

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“Pull their heads in”

Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross has fired a blunt warning at national politicians pushing for sweeping migration cuts, saying regional Australia “needs all the help we can get” as businesses struggle to find skilled workers.

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Passport adventure on a roll

School holiday fun is continuing at Naracoorte Library and Town Hall, with local adventures, creative activities, games and movies still to come.

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Speed cuts rejected

The West Wimmera Shire Council has expressed disappointment after the Victorian government declined requests to reduce speed limits in Goroke and Apsley.

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Coonawarra celebrates Cabernet

Spring is set to come alive in the Coonawarra Wine Region this October, with Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations returning from 1 18 October 2026, bringing together three vibrant weekends of wine, food, music, and regional experiences.

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Come wander through our wonderful wetlands

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is inviting the community to connect with nature these school holidays at Walk the Wetland, a free family-friendly environmental education event celebrating the importance of wetlands across the Limestone Coast.

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Lovegrass threat recognised

The African lovegrass has been announced as a new national priority weed for Australia.

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